Infusion device



Aug. 24, 1954 1. M. D. REGINA 7 INFUSION DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1l Filed June 25, 1951 INVENTOR ATTORNBYJ s sheets-sheet 2 Filed June 25, 1951 ATTO R NEYS INFUSION DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 25, 1951 ATTC'R NEYS Patented Aug. 24, 1954 INFUSION DEVICE Jos Maria Domingo Regina, villa Elisa,

Argentina Application June 25, 1951, Serial No. 233,335

c claims. 1

The present invention relates to infusion devices of the kind used for preparing infusions of beverages such as coffee and tea, and more particularly to a device which can be used not only for preparing straight infusions but also for preparing diluent mixed infusions and in which the diluent is preheated at the same time as the extractant. f

It isltherefore a principal object of the present invention to pro-vide an infusion device of the type described which shall be of simplined construction and shall comprise a highly efficient combination o-f parts operative in the preparing of said infusions.

A further object of the invention is to provide an infusion device comprising an outer container for the extractant, an inner container for the extract, means for containing the substance to be extracted, means for conducting the extractant to said substance, and a single closure and locking means whereby the outer container may be closed and the other parts iirmly held in operative relationship therewithin.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an infusion device of the type described in which the inner container shall be so related to the outer container and the other operative parts as readily to permit the preheating therein, simultaneously with the heating of the eXtractant in the outer container, of a diluent, such as milk, to which the extract is automatically admixed as it is formed.

Another object of the invention is to provide an infusion device of the type described in which the parts contained in the outer container may be readily removed to enable the outer container to be employed for other purposes.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an infusion device of the type described in which the outer container Iand the lid define together la housing which may be used by itself for simply containing and/or heating and pouring liquids and in which the inner container may be entirely enclosed.

Yet another object of the present invention is to pro-vide an infusion device of the type described in which the inner container shall be suspended in the outer container and the lid shall be adapted to transmit tothe area of suspension sufficient pressure to provide a substantially gas tight seal over said area.

Another object of the present invention is to providean infusion device of the type described in which the lid and outer container shall together denne asubstantially `closed, housing in which the inner container is suspended and entirely enclosed and which shall have passage means establishing communication, as for pouring, between the inner container and the atmosphere.

These and other objects and ='advantages of the present invention will become more clearly apparent in the course of the following detailed description of certain preferred embodiments thereof which, by way of example, have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a part sectional elevation of an infusion device according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a part sectional elevation of a somewhat modiiied embodiment of my novel infusion device illustrated with built in electrical heating means.

Fig. 3 is a section along the line III-III of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 shows another modified embodiment of the device, partly in section, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional View showing the upper portion of the embodiment of Fig. 4.

l Referring iirst to Fig. l, the infusion device there shown comprises an outer container i for the extractant, which will normally be water, said container having a substantially iiat bottom 5, a peripheral wall t which preferably tapers downwardly to the bottom 5 from the neighborhood of a constricted neck portion l, between which and the tapering part of the wall 6 I may provide an outwardly directed bulge 8 so `as to increase the capacity of the outer container. Beyond the neck portion I is a substantially cylindrical upper wall portion 9 adapted to receive a depending.

skirt portion I of a dished or domed lid II on the outside of which is amxed a handle I2. The upper wall portion 9 is formed to provide elongated inclined slots I 3, adapted to cooperate with quick thread portions I4, formed at suitable intervals on the outside of said skirt portion ID to pro-vide a means for readily and securely locking and unlocking said cover II with respect to the outer container 4.

For convenience, and as indicated in Fig. Z, I may provide on the outside of said upper wall 9 one or more pairs of symmetrically disposed knobs I6 to enable the infusion device to be more readily and securely transported, say from one room to another, when in use, and to afford a gripping place for holding the outer container when securing or unlocking the lid I i. Hence, I prefer to make said knobs, and of course the handle I2, of thermally insulating material, such as wood or plastics.

On the inside of the outer container fi, said constricted neck 'I forms an annular shelf or ledge Il, adapted to serve as a support for an outwardly directed flange I8 dening the open end of an inner container I9, between which flange and said shelf I'I I prefer to provide a compressible packing member, such as rubber ring 2E?, in order to `secure as gastight a joint as possible, when the device is` assembled.

The inner container I9 is of generally cylindrical form, comprising a surrounding wall 2I, and an annular floor 22, from the inner portion of which a tubular duct 23 extends towards and preferably beyond the open end defined by the flange I8. Preferably, said duct 23 is slightly conical also preferably the free end portion 24 thereof lying oiutside the inner container I9 is. more pronouncedly conical and has a large end adjacent the duct and of smaller diameter than the small end of the duct with which said large end merges so that at a level preferably just outside said inner container, a shoulder 25 is formed, for a purpose to be hereinafter made clear.

It will be observed that the lid I I and the outer container It together dene a substantially closed housing and it is a feature of the present invention that the inner container I9 including all its constituent parts, is wholly enclosed in said housing. Hence since the inner container I9 is to be suspended by engagement ofv the outwardly.

directed ange I8 with the ledge or annular supporting surface I'I or with the packing member 2Q resting thereon, said annular supporting surface must likewise be contained within said housing. Moreover, as one of the principal functions of the lid I I is to transmit pressure to the joint between flange I8 and annular supporting surface Il, said surface must also be associated constructively with the outer container 4.

The means tor containing the extractable substance comprises a cap member and a reservoir member 21 adapted to be mounted on said free end portion 24 of duct 23. For this purpose, the reservoir member comprises a side wall 29, an annular forarninous end wall having a plurality of line holes 3| and adapted to act as a filter or strainer, and a hollow supporting portion 32, here shown as frustoconical in shape, extending from said foraminous wall 30 on the same side thereof as the side wall 29 and adapted to receive said free end portion 24. Between said conical supporting portion 32 and the foraminous wall 3Q I may provide a step 33 adapted to cooperate with the shoulder 25 of the end portion 2li of duct 23, to prevent such intimate engagement between the supporting portion 32 and the free end portion 2d as might cause binding therebetween. I prefer to proportion the parts in such a manner that when the supporting portion 32 is fitted thimble like over the end portion 24, the extremity of the supporting portion is on a level with or a little below the extremity of said end portion 24.

The cap member 26 comprises an imperforate, preferably outwardly dished or domed top 34 and depending imperforate side wall 35 of diameter such as to be an easy t over the side wall 29 of the reservoir'ZI.

As will be more clearly pointed out hereinbelow, it is not essential to one of the principal features of the present invention namely to obtaining a gastight joint over the area of suspension of the inner container, that is to say between the flange I8 and the supporting surface I l, both of which should be continuous, that a cap member such as member 2G be provided.

Furthermore, when such cap member is provided it may be constructed in any desired manner provided that when assembled to the reservoir 2 vapor and hot extractant may enter the reservoir from the free end portion of the duct 23 and that vapors may escape from the combination of cap member and reservoir. Thus the cap member may comprise merely a deecting member such as the imperforate top 34 without any depending side wall.

However, if hot vapors are allowed to escape freely, they will naturally tend to now towards the lid I I and will not flow towards the inner container 2i. Moreover, the extraction will then be carried out practically entirely by gravity ow of the hot extractant through the material to be extracted, which gives a rather weak infusion. On the other hand, if the joint between the outer margin and/or side wall of the cap member 26 and the side wall of the reservoir 2 be made substantially tight, vapor pressure will build up in the means for containing the extractable substance and over said substance and the extraction will 'take place under pressure while such arrangements have heretofore been proposed, they suier from the drawback that the vapor pressure tends to compact the usually comminuted or granular substance so as to render the passage of the extractant very dicult.

Hence I prefer to use a cap member and to provide means for determining a retarded but escape of the vapors whereby extraction takes place by gravity assisted by some pressure and some turbulence, whereby the extractable material not only is not compacted but is agitated to some degree and thus rnore intimately contacted with the extractant.

In addition, I prefer to provide the overlapping side wall construction somewhat as indicated, in order to direct the escaping vapors away from the lid and into the inner container 2i to assist in preheating said container and in preheating or maintaining the temperature of its ccntents. Hence in the embodiment illustrated in Fig. l, I provide at the central portion of the top 3ft, contact surfaces such as a plurality of preferably symmetrically disposed protuberances 3b extending in the same direction as the depending side wall 35, so disposed as to engage the extremity of the conical supporting portion 32 when the parts are in assembled condition. In this embodiment the parts are so shaped and proportioned that when the reservoir 2l has been seated on said end portion 24 and the cap member 26 positioned over the reservoir, the lid II, when in locked position, will exert pressure on the central portion of the cap member to thereby urge the protuberances against the extremity of the supporting portion 32 and hence, indirectly to urge the flange I8 of the inner container I9 towards the shelf Il and thus to compress the gasket or packing 2@ and thereby provide a substantially gastight seal between the inner and the outer containers.

To render possible the slow and directed escape of vapors from the space between the cap member 26 and the reservoir 2, I provide between the cap member 2li and the reservoir 2'! spacer means. To this end I may, as shown in Fig, l, provide a plurality of protuberances Sila peripherally spaced about the marginal portion of the top 34 which would be above the free edge 29a of the sidewall 29 of `reservoir 21 and adjacent the depending wall 35, said protuberances being designed to rest on said free edge 29a and to dene therewith spaced narrow gaps or vents 2Gb for the controlled passage of vapors. Y The relationship between the two side Wall portions 29 and 35 are such as to provide for a slow passage of vapors therebetween. For instance they may be screwed lightly together by providing a suitable leaking thread construction of any conventional type (see, for example, Figs. 4 and 5) or the adjacent `faces of said side walls may be spaced a short distance apart as shown or they may be iiuted or otherwise suitably designed.

Also in order that the escaping vapors may be positively directed into the inner container, I

prefer, as shown to make the depending side wall long enough to terminate at about the level of the foraminous end wall`30.

It should also be noted that I may provide the protuberances 34a on the side wall of the reservoir 21, as by serrating or notching the free edge y29a or, I may locate the spacer means between said side walls, as in the case of the use of a screw thread.

\ It should be noted that the length of the surrounding wall 2| of the inner container i9 is such that the annular iioor 22 will be spaced a short distance from the bottom 5 of the outer container.

`In order to be able to pour out the prepared infusion without being compelled to dismantle the device, I provide at a convenient point of the upper wall 9 of said outer container, passage means such a spout or discharging lip 31 which, as can readily be appreciated from Fig. 1, does not in any way aiiect the closure of the space for extractant between the inner and outer containers and yet establishes a sufficient communication between the inner container and-the atmosphere to allow of pouring'out of the contents. Also it will be observed that the relatively narrow passage communicating with the outside atmosphere thus provided detracts but a negligible amount from the effectiveness of the device as a whole to maintain the temperature of the prepared infusion at approximately the temperature of infusion for a considerable period, since the main factor in the heat conservation is to be found in the vapor space 38 surrounding the wall 2| and fioor 22 of the inner container, which space is wide over practically the whole extent f the axial dimensions of the inner container, where radiation and conduction losses are most likely to take place.

It should also be noted that the space between the lid and the flange I8 of the inner container, as well as the major portion of the duct 23, is, during the preparation of the infusion and for some time thereafter iilled with hot vapors, which not only assist in maintaining the temperature of the prepared infusion, but also conduce to a rapid heating of the inner container from the space 33, the inside of duct 23, and through the vapors issuing from the means for containing extractable material. This feature is of considerable importance when the device is used for preparing an infusion admixed with a diluent such as milk, which requires preheating because in my device, the arrangements permit of the preheating in the same apparatus ofthe diluent simultaneously with the heating of the extractant and to substantially the same 6. temperature, whereby I not only avoid having to use a separate vessel for heating the diluent but there is practically no loss of temperature when the infusion is admixed to the diluent.

In Figs. 2 and 3 I have illustrated a slightly modified form of my novel infusion device, which is there shown as provided with` a built-in electric heater and certain useful ancillary devices.

As shown in Fig. 2, between the annular floor |22 of the inner container I9 and the bottom |05 of the outer container |04, I provide an electric heater indicated by the general reference character |40, comprising as best seen in Fig. 3 an annularly bent tubular heating element |4| including a tubular jacket |42 of glass and a helical resistance or heating element |43 the turns of which are in contact with the inner surface of jacket |42. The ends of the jacket are closed by metal plugs |44 drilled and tapped to receive screwthreaded shanks |45 of contact pins |45` which preferably have a stop pin |41 intermediate their ends adapted to engage an inner transverse wall |48 of a terminal housing |49 of electrically insulating material mounted on the outside of the outer container at a level between said floor |22 and said bottom |05, and against a substantially cylindrical wall portion |50 (Fig. 2) between which and said housing |49 I provide around the projecting ends of the heating element |43, a seal |5| of suitable heat resisting material.

Referring again to the heating element |43, I provide inside the jacket |42 thereof and near one end, a thermostat device |52 designed to break the heater circuit when the temperature of the element reaches a predetermined value.

The terminal housing |40 preferably includes an off-set wall portion |49a (see Fig. 2) deiining a cavity in which visual signal means may be installed. Such visual signal may be a small glow wire |53 installed in back of and protected by a lens |54 and adapted to glow when `the heater is on and to be cut out when the thermostat |52 operates, to cut out the heater.

Considering now Fig. 4, the embodiment therein shown differs in some respects from both of the embodiments shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Thus the outer container 204 is of generally frustoconical shape and has a cylindrical upper wall 205 having an ordinary screw thread 2 i3 formed on the outside thereof, adapted to cooperate with a female thread 2 I4 formed on the inside of the depending skirt portion 2|!) of cover 2| Il. The annular supporting surface for the ilange 2|@ of inner container 2 I0, is provided by the upper free edge 2|1 of the cylindrical upper wall 2|4. Moreover, between the inner and outer containers, I provide a liner 260, preferably of metal and spaced somewhat from the inner surface of the outer container 204 to provide an insulating air space 26|. Said liner 250 has an annular outwardly turned lip 215 adapted to lit between said upper free edge l2|1 and the annular flange 2|8 and an annular bottom wall 202 which is also spaced from the bottom 205 of the outer container, said bottom having anchoring means comprising for instance a centrally disposed, tubular supporting member 203, the ends of which project fromeither side of said bottom 205, said tubular supporting member being adapted to receive a closely fitting stem 255 of a disc shape heater holder 266, between which stem 265 and the tubular support, a tubular projection 201 of liner 260 may be gripped, so that said liner is positively secured at each end thereof.

' heating coil 243, the ends of which are connected to lead in wires 268, in any suitable manner, and preferable so as to include in the circuit a visual signal 253, 25d installed in an annular cylindrical foot wall 269 forming part of the outer container 20d and extending beyond the bottom 225 thereof. The lead in wires 258 are connected severally to Contact pins Mii the screw threaded shanks 245 of which pass through said foot wall 2te and may be secured in position by nuts 2W. To protect the wires 268 and to provide at the same time securing means for the heater holder 266, the assembly preferably comprises a closure plate 22| having an internally threaded centrally disposed bush 2'12 into which a screw threaded end portion 264 of the stern 265 may be screwed. To prevent leakage through the `ioint between the stem 255 and the tubular support 263, I prefer to provide a compressible packing, such as a rubber washer 213, between the outer end of the support lZi and the adjacent end of the bush 27|.

In order to enable the heater circuit to be automatically interrupted before the amount of liquid extractant remaining in the space 238 between the liner 262 and the inner container EIS, has reached a predetermined low limit, I provide an automatic switch device 252, which may for instance be of the buoyancy responsive type, and which is to be understood as connected in the heater circuit in a manner which will be clear to those skilled in the art of electricity. Said automatic switch may conveniently be installed in a well 2M provided in the central portion of the heater holder 26e. The packing 22E for the seal between the outer and inner containers, may be provided between the inner container 2I9 and the liner 262, as shown and preferably is so provided.

A further difference between the embodiment of Figs. 4 and 5 and those oi Figs. 1 and 2, is in the construction of the means for containing the extractable material.

In Figs. 4 and 5 these means are shown as designed to be reversed so as to permit of the transporting in a bag or the like of the infusion device in fully prepared condition to be heated or utilized for preparing the infusion.

The screw closure 2 I3, 2M will sufficiently provide closure of the inner container 2I9 to prevent spillage of any diluent which it may contain.

To seal oi the reservoir and the space 238 and the interior of duct 223, the hollow supporting portion 232 has its hollow bore positively frustoconical to nt over an unstepped frustoconical end portion 22e of said duct 223.

The cap member 22 is adapted to be screwed on to the side wall 22e of the reservoir 227 as by screw threads 2Std which likewise constitute the spacer means as already explained hereinabove, so that in this embodiment of Figs. i and 5 I dispense with other protuberances. It willbe understood that the closure between cap 226 and reservoir 22's provided by the screw connection 234m is suioient to prevent spilling or passage therethrough of any solid extractable material contained in the reservoir but still provides a suicient controlled or restricted escape path for vapors when the device is in operation. To avoid too great a restriction of vapor escape I yprefer to shorten the side wall 235 of the cap 225, and in order to odset any reduction in the directive effect on the escaping vapors, I arrange the height of the duct 223 so that the reservoir 22? and cap 225 may lie well within the inner container 2I2. This feature also enables me t0 keep the height of the infusion device as a Whole to a reasonable size because in order to permit inversion of the extractable material container means as already indicated, I provide on the outside of top 234 of cap 22e a hollow frustoconical thimble member 23417 having its larger diameter at the free end thereof and being of a length and size to fit slightly further down on the free end portion 224 than the supporting portion 232 of the reservoir 227.

Conveniently I provide at the narrow closed end of said thimble 23th a compressible packing member 235e to ensure liquidtight closure of the extremity of the free end portion 224 when the eX- tractable material container means is inverted as seen in Fig. 5.

The thimble 231517 likewise acts as a pressure receiving means to coact with a pressure transmitting surface 236 provided centrally in lid 2II to transmit sealing pressure to flange 2 I3 through duct 223 when in the normal position of Fig. 4, whereas said surface 23E coacts with the foraminous end wall 238 of reservoir 227 to urge Ithe thimble 23de against the free end portion 224 so as to press the packing member 2341i against the extremity thereof to seal said duct 223 and thereby prevent escape of any extractant contained in space 238, and at the same time to transmit sealing pressure to flange IBIS as before. In this embodiment the passage means for pouring is a spout 23? provided on lid 2II said passage means again communicating only Awith the yinterior of the inner container and being provided with a stopper 237e preferably a screw stopper t0 complete the closure of the housing for transport.

The use and operation of my infusion device will now be described with more particular reference to Fig. l. If the device be supposed in dismantled condition, I rst introduce into the outer container a suitable quantity of water, depending on the capacity of the device and the desired strength of the resultant infusion. I then locate the inner container I in the position shown, with the washer 22 between the ange I3 and the shelf I l. Alternatively, I may rst locate the inner container in position in the outer container and pour the water for the outer container through the duct 23 of the inner container, which duct will, until the capmernber 26 is put into its position, be open and readily accessible. Thus I do not require a separate special inlet for introducing water into the outer container.,

Having positioned the inner container and introduced the charge of extractant into the outer container, I then locate on the end portion 24 of said duct 23, the reservoir 2l' which may conveniently have been already lled with a charge of extractable material, such as ground coffee or fresh tea leaves, or may be lled with such a charge after being positioned on said end 24. Thereupon I position the cap 26 on the reservoir, and iinaily I close the outer container by applying the lid II, with the quick thread portions I4 positioned to coincide with the unslotted portionsY of the upper wall S, and then, when the skirt portion I I3 of lid II has been pushed down into the mouth of the outer container defined by the upper wall 9, I twist said lid in order to engage said time provide the gas tight seal between the inner and the outer containers as hereinabove described. l

I then apply heat to the infusion device, as by standing the device of Fig. 1 on a suitable source of heat such, for example, as a gas ring, or in the case of the embodiments of Figs. 2 and 4,

connecting the pins |l|3 or 243 to a suitable source of current. As the heating continues, the water or other extractant between the floor 22 and the bottom and in the space 38 as well as in the` interior of the duct` 23 will gradually give off steam which will occupy the free room above the water level in the space 38 and in the duct 23. The steam in the space 38 will gradually build up pressure to depress the level of extractant in the space 38 and to raise the level thereof in the duct 23, while at the same time the steam formed in the duct 23 will ascend therein towards the cap member 26, and striking the domed top 34 will be deflected radially outwards thereby and enter the extractable material container through the gaps between pips 36 to warm` up the extractable material, and will also escape through the narrow gap between the side wall 29 of the reservoir 27 and the depending wall 35 of the cap member 26 to enter the interior of the inner container and assist in preheating the inner container. `If I have introduced into the inner container a charge of diluent, such as milk, said steam will act upon the exposed liquid surface thereof to preheat the same, and to rluidify any more viscous layer, such, for instance as cream, which maybe upon said diluent.` As the steam pressure rises in the space 38, extractant in liquid form will gradually be forced up the duct 23, until when the predetermined working pressure has been reached, the liquid extractant will be` caused to overflow the duct 23 into the reservoir 21, and, like the steam in the earlier part of the operation, will be spread over the material to be extracted by the top 34 of "the cap 216, said extractant then trickling through the extractable material and the infusion dripping into the inner container, where it will either collect as such or become mixed with the preheated diluent therein contained.

When the infusion has thus been prepared, the infusion device is removed from the source of heat, or in the case of Figs. 2 and 4, when the level of extractant has sunk to a predetermined value in the outer container, the electrical heater and the visual signal are automatically cut out as already indicated, and thereupon, the infusion may be poured out through the spout 31 without requiring uncovering or dismantling of the device. It will also be observed that, owing to the construction of the device, any liquid extractant remaining between the outer and inner containers, will be trapped therebetween and cannot be poured out with the prepared infusion to weaken the same, however much the device may be tilted in the pouring. Furthermore, the thermal insulation provided by the space 38, and, in the cases of Figs. 4 and 5 by the Aspaces 238` and 26| will keep the contents of the inner container hot for a very considerable time, especially if the device is stood on a good heat insulating support (not shown).

It should be observed that the construction illustrated in Fig. lis particularly suitable for the case when the outer container 204 is made of plastic material, 'especially plastic material which may have a tendency to become deformed or to soften when heated to temperatures corresponding to the boiling temperatures of the extractant. As may clearly be seen from said gures, the outer container is substantially completely protected from direct heating by the metal liner 260 and the air space 26| formed between said liner and the` outer container. Thus another advantage of the present invention is that I may use comparatively inexpensive materials in constructing the infusion device, without thereby in any way detracting from its usefulness,` eciency and appearance.

It will also be noted that in all the embodiments illustrated the inner container, the annular packing therefor, and the extractable material containing means may be removed from the outer container and the outer container with its lid be used as a simple container or jug or for simply boiling or heating a liquid without making any infusion.

l Also the supporting portion 232 of reservoir 221 and the free end portion 224 of duct 223 may be any suitable shape such as cylindrical, if suitable stop means or shoulders are provided and the supporting portion may be dimensioned for insertion in said end portion.

It is furthermore to be understood that the means for coupling the lid to the outer container A, need not be of the quick or ordinary screw type, provided that they are readily releasable and that they are adapted to prevent unintentional displacement of said lid away from Athe closed end of the outer container, when the 35l lidis in coupled position thereon. In other words the coupling means must be such that the lid may be brought into a position on the outer container and positively held insuch position, in which the pressure transmitting surface or surfaces of the lid may cause the flange of the inner container to be urged towards the annular supporting surface I.of `the outer container, to there establish the gas-tight seal. It should further be understood that I am not concerned with merely providing` a gas-tight seal in the infusion device by pressure transmitted by the lid, but that this feature of my invention consists in the provision between an outer container and an inner container suspended in the outer container from an annular supporting surface structurally related to the outer container, of a gas-tight seal over the Whole area of suspension, by pressure transmitted to the inner container by the lid.

Although I have described my novel infusion device with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, I do not intend to be limited thereby, but may make such modications and changestherein as lie within the scope of the accompanying claims.

I claim:

l. An infusion device comprising an outer con:- tainer having a closed end and an open mouth, a movable lid for closing said open mouth to thereby define with said outer container a substantially closed housing, an innercontainer including a surrounding wall, an open end, an outwardly directed annular flange adjacent said open end, an annular floor at the end of the inner container remote from said open end, a tubular duct extending from said annular iloor towards said open end, said duct including a free end portion, said outer container having an annular supporting surface comprised within said housing and of a size to support said. annular 11 flange, said inner container being of a size to be entirely enclosed in said housing and to be suspended in said outer container when said annular ange is supported by said supporting surface, a reservoir member comprising an annular foraminous end wall, a side wall extending from one side of said end wall, a hollow supporting portion extending centrally from said end wall on the same side thereof as said side wall, said supporting portion being of a size to be received by said free end portion of said duct, a cap member comprising an imperforate top and an irnperforate depending side wall of a size to fit tosaid outer container to closeV said outer container and prevent unintentional displacement of said lid away from said closed end, pressure transmitting surfaces on said lid for transmitting pressure to at least said annular flange to urge said ilange towards said supporting surface to there establish a substantially gas-tight joint between said outer container and said inner container Aand passage means in said housing for communicating the interior of said inner oo ntainer with the atmosphere..

2. An infusion device comprising an outer container having an upper cylindrical wall portion defining a closed end and an open mouth, a movable lid for closing said open mouth, to therebl7 define with said outer container a substantially closed housing, an inner container including a surrounding wall, an open end,A an outwardly directed annular flange adjacent said open end, an annular floor at the end of the inner container remote from saidV open end, a tubular duct extending from said annular floor towards said open end, saidA duct including a hollow frustoconical free end portion, an annular ledge ex- A tending inwardly of said outer container and located adjacent said upper wall portion and com prised within said housing and of a size to support said annular flange, said inner container being of a size to be entirely enclosed in said housing and to be suspended in said outer container when said annular ilange is supported by said supporting surface, a reservoir member comprising an annular ioraminous end wall, a side wall extending from one side of said end wall, a hollow frustoconical supporting portion extending centrally from said end wall on the same side thereof as said side wall, said supporting portion being of a size lto be received by said free end portion of said duct, a cap member comprising an imperforate top and an imperforate depending side wall of a size to iit over the side wall of said reservoir, a plurality of protuberances projecting from said top on the same side thereof as said depending side wall said protuberances, being arranged in mutually spaced relationship and to engage the side wall of said reservoir, whereby to provide gaps of predetermined dimensions when said cap is located on said reservoir for controlled passage of vapor from said reservoir, said depending side wall extending over said side wall of said reservoir a sufcient distance to direct escaping vapor into said inner container towards said annular floor, a compressible annular packing member of a size to nt between said supporting surface and said annular iiange, releasable coupling means or coupling said lid to said outer container to close said outer container and prevent unintentional displacement of said lid away from said closed end, pressure transmitting surfaces on said lid for transmitting pressure to at least said annular ilange to urge said flange towards said supporting surface to there establish a substantially gas-tight joint between said outer container and said inner container and passage means in said housing for communicating the interior of said inner container with the atmosphere.

3. An infusion device comprising an outer container having an. upper cylindrical wall portion dening a closed end and an open mouth, a movable lid for closing said open mouth to thereby deline with said outer container a substantially closed housing, an inner container including asurrounding wall, an open end, an outwardly directed annular ange adjacent said open end, an annular floor at the end of the inner container remote from said open end, a tubular duct extending irom said annular floor towards said open end, said duct including a hollow frustoconical free end portion, an annular ledge extending inwardly of said outer container and located adjacent said upper wall portion and comprised within said housingoand of a size to supportl said annular flange, said inner container being of a size to be entirely enclosed in said housing and to be suspended in said outer container when said annular flange is supported by said supporting surface, a reservoir member comprising an annular foraminous end wall, a side Wall extending from one side of said end wall, a hollow frustoconical supporting portion extending centrally from said end wall on the same side thereof as said side wall, said supporting portion being 0f a size to ce received by said free end portion of said duct member, a plurality of protuberances projecting from said top on the same side thereof as said imperforate side wall, said protuberances being so disposed that when said cap member is applied to said reservoir member, said protuberances will rest on said end portion of said duct, a lid having a depending skirt portion of a size to engage said upper wall portion of said outer container, and thereby define a substantially closed housing, said inner container being of a size to be entirely in said housing when said fiange is supported on said ledge, rotary type coupling means for coupling said skirt portion to said upper wall portion, said upper wall portion including 'a spout portion, handle means on the side of said lid remote from said skirt, protuberant areas projecting from said lid on the same side thereof as said skirt portion, and passage means in said housing for communicating the interior of said inner container with atmosphere, whereby when the inner container is located in the outer container with'said flange engaging said reservoir member, said skirt portion" of said lid may be caused to engage said upper Wall portion and to be coupled thereto by said rotary means4 to substantially close said device andv to cause saidlprotuberant areas to exert pressure on said cap member to thereby through said reservoir member and said duct urge said flange towards said ledge to compress saidpacking and thereby establish a substantially gastight seal between said flange and said ledge.

4. An infusion device comprising an outer container having an upper cylindrical wall portion defininga closed end and an open mouth, a movable lid for closing said open mouth to thereby define with said outer container a substantially closed housing, an inner container including a surrounding wall, an open end, an outwardly directed annular flange adjacent said open end, an annular licor at the end of the inner container remote from said open end, a tubular duct extending from said annular iioor towards said open end, said duct including a hollow frustoconical free end portion `having a large end adjacent said duct, an annular ledge extending inwardly of said outer container and located adjacent said upper wall portion and comprised within said housing and of a size to support said annular iiange, said inner container being of a size to be entirely enclosed in said housing and to be suspended in said outer container when said annular flange is supported by said supportingsurface, a reservoir member comprising an annular foraminous end wall, aside wall extending from one side of said end wall, a, hollow frustoconical supporting portion extending centrally from said end wall on the same side thereof as said side wall, said supporting portion being of a size to be received by said free end portion of said duct member, a plurality of protuberances projecting from said top on the same side thereof as said imperforate side wall, said protuberances beingso disposed that when said cap member is applied to said reservoir member, said protuberances will rest on said end portion of said duct, a lid having a depending skirt portion of a size to engage said upper wall portion of said outer container, and thereby denne a substantially closed housing, said inner ,container being of a size to be entirely in said housing when said flange is supported on said ledge, rotary type coupling means for coupling said skirt portion to said upper wall portion, said upper wall portion including a spout portion handle means on the side of said lid remote from said skirt, protuberant areas projecting from said lid on the same side thereof as said skirt portion, and passage means in said housing for communicating the interior of said inner container with atmosphere, whereby when the inner container is located in the outer container with said iiange engaging said packing member located on said ledge, and with the reservoir member mounted on said free end portion and Said cap member in position over said reservoir member, said skirt portion of said lid may be caused to engage said upper wall portion and to be coupled thereto by said rotary means to substantially close said device and to cause said protuberant areas to exert pressure on said cap member to thereby through said reservoir member and said duct urge said flange towards said ledge to compress said packing and to urge said supporting portion into intimate contact with said free end portion, to thereby establish a substantially gas-tight seal between the outer container and the inner container at said annular supporting surface and between said free end portion and said supporting portion.

i 5. An infusion device comprising an outer container having a closed end and a substantially cylindrical upper wall portion at the other end of said outer container defining an open mouth, an annular ledge on the inside of said outer container adjacent said upper wall portion, an annular compressible packing member on said ledge on the side thereof adjacent said upper wall portion, an inner container including a surrounding wall, an outwardly directed ange defining an open end oi' said inner container and resting on said packing member, an annular floor at the end of said innei` container remote from said open end, a tubular duct extending from said annular floor towards said open end, said duct including a frustoconical free end portion having a large end adjacent said duct, a reservoir member comprising an annular forarninous end wall, a side wall extending from one side of said end wall and a hollow frustoconical supporting portion extending centrally from said annular end wall and having a large end merging in said end wall, and a free small end, said frustoconical supporting portion being mounted on said free end portion to support said reservoir on said duct, a cap member comprising an imperforate top and an imperiorate depending sidewall, a plurality of protuberances projecting from said top on the same side thereof as said depending side wall said protuberances being arranged in mutually spaced relationship and resting on said free small end, said depending side wall extending towards the annular floor of the inner container, spacing means arranged between said cap member and said reservoir to denne gaps for restricted escape of vapors from said reservoir into said inner container and towards said annular floor, a movable lid for closing the open mouth of said outer container, to thereby define a substantially closed housing wholly enclosing the inner container, releasable coupling means for coupling said lid to said outer` container in closed position and for preventing unintentional displacement of said lid away from said closed end, a plurality of proi jections on said lid arranged to contact said cap member and to thereby transmit pressure through said protuberances and said supporting member to said duct to thereby establish a substantially gas-tight seal between said flange and said supporting surface and between said supporting member and said free end portion, and passage means in said housing for communicating the interior of said inner container with atmosphere.

6. An infusion device comprising an outer container having a closed end and a substantially cylindrical wall portion at the other end of said outer container, dening an open mouth, an annular ledge on the inside of said outer container between said cylindrical wall and said closed end, an annular compressible packing member resting on said annular ledge, an inner container including a surrounding wall, an outwardly directed annular flange dening an open end of said inner container and resting on said annular packing member, an annular floor at the endof said inner container remote from said open end, a

15 tending centrally from said annular end Wall and having a large end merging in said end Wall, and a free small end, said frustoconical supporting portion being mounted on said free end portion to support said reservoir on said duct, a cap member comprising an imperforate top and an iinperforate depending side Wall, a plurality of protuberanoes projecting from said top on the same side thereof as said depending side wall said protuberances being arranged in mutually spaced relationship and resting on said free small end, said depending side wall extending towards the annular iioor of the inner container, spacing means arranged between said cap member and said reservoir to dene gaps for restricted escape of vapors from said reservoir into said inner container and towards said annular door, a movable lid including a substantially cylindrical skirt portion of a size to be received in said cylindrical Wall portion of the outer container for closing said outer container to thereby define a substantially closed housing wholly enclosing said inner container, quick thread screw type coupling means on said skirt' portion and on said cylindrical wall portion for coupling said lid to said outer container and preventing unintentional displacement of said lid from said closed end, a plurality of projections on said lid on the same side thereof as said skirt portion, said projections being arranged to Contact said cap member in the fully supporting member and said free end portion to sealing pressure through-said protuberances said said annular ange and to said supporting member, and a spout formed in said cylindrical wall portion for communicating the interior of said inner container With atmosphere.

1determines Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 19,566 Valls May 7, 1935 60,204 Lee Dec. 4, 1866 1,158,421 Abtmeyer Nov. 2, 1915 1,171,022 Ciletti Feb. 8, 1916 1,809,294 Guerin et al. June 9, 1931 2,046,710 Umstott July '7, 1936 2,169,880 McNeil Aug; 15, 1939 2,256,664 Burke Sept. 23, 1941 2,269,112 Jepson et al; Jan. 6, 1942l 2,515,385 Wales July 18, 1950 2,550,902 Beckelman May 1, 1951 2,565,638 Victory Aug. 28, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 533,478 France Dec. 10, 1921 703,612 Germany Mar. 12, 1941 965,892 France Feb, 22, 1950 

